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NASH New Drug Launch Imminent, Payers May Be the Biggest Obstacle
As NASH drugs enter the final countdown to market launch, payer attitudes have become a key variable. Clinical data show that early drugs have limited efficacy, with annual treatment costs potentially reaching $10,000 to $18,000. Physicians and industry analysts expect payers to strictly limit reimbursement scope, prioritize coverage for patients with the most severe liver fibrosis, and may require liver biopsy as a precondition. The effectiveness of lifestyle interventions further weakens the cost-effectiveness argument for the drugs.
Liver Biopsy: A Potential Bottleneck in the Expansion of the NASH Drug Market?
Although liver biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing NASH, its invasiveness, high cost, and shortage of physicians may hinder the widespread use of future NASH drugs. The industry is seeking non-invasive alternatives.